Method and apparatus for mechanically reconstructing ligaments in a knee prosthesis

Abstract

The invention relates to a knee joint prosthesis for replacing the articulating knee portion of a femur and a tibia. The knee joint prosthesis includes a femoral component, a tibial component, a bearing member, a guide post and a mechanically reconstructed ligament. The femoral component includes a first femoral bearing surface and a second femoral bearing surface. The tibial component includes a tibial bearing surface. The bearing member includes a first bearing surface which is operable to articulate with the first femoral bearing surface, a second bearing surface which is operable to articulate with the second femoral bearing surface and a third bearing surface which is operable to articulate with the tibial bearing surface. The guide post extends from the tibial component. The mechanically reconstructed ligament is coupled to both the tibial component and the femoral component to prevent the knee joints from dislocating and guiding the femoral component along a desired path during extension and flexion.

1. A method of replacing the articulating knee portion of a femur and a tibia comprising:
 resecting an end portion of the tibia; 
 resecting an end portion of the femur; 
 attaching a tibial prosthetic component corresponding to the resected end portion of the tibia, the tibial prosthetic component having a bearing surface; 
 attaching a femoral prosthetic component corresponding to the resected end portion of the femur, the femoral prosthetic component having a bearing surface; 
 installing a bearing member between the tibial prosthetic component and the femoral prosthetic component, the bearing member having a first surface operable to articulate with the femoral bearing surface and a second bearing surface operable to articulate with the tibial bearing surface; and 
 connecting the tibial prosthetic component to the femoral prosthetic component with a linkage, the linkage operable to allow the femoral prosthetic component to translate in the posterior direction and rotate during flexion of the joint; 
 wherein connecting the tibial prosthetic component to the femoral prosthetic component with the linkage further includes the step of inserting a first end of the linkage into a guide located in the tibial prosthetic component, inserting the second end of the linkage into a guide located in the femoral prosthetic component, installing a first stop on the first end of the linkage to prevent the first end of the linkage from passing through the guide on the tibial prosthetic component and installing a second stop on the second end of the linkage to prevent the second end of the linkage from passing through the guide on the femoral prosthetic component. 
 
     
     
       2. A method of replacing the articulating knee portion of a femur and a tibia comprising:
 resecting an end portion of the tibia; 
 resecting an end portion of the femur; 
 attaching a tibial prosthetic component corresponding to the resected end portion of the tibia, the tibial prosthetic component having a bearing surface; 
 attaching a femoral prosthetic component corresponding to the resected end portion of the femur, the femoral prosthetic component having a bearing surface; 
 installing a bearing member between the tibial prosthetic component and the femoral prosthetic component, the bearing member having a first surface operable to articulate with the femoral bearing surface and a second bearing surface operable to articulate with the tibial bearing surface; and 
 connecting the tibial prosthetic component to the femoral prosthetic component with a linkage, the linkage operable to allow the femoral prosthetic component to translate in the posterior direction and rotate during flexion of the joint; 
 wherein connecting the tibial prosthetic component to the femoral prosthetic component with the linkage further includes inserting the linkage into a captured slot in the tibial component, translating the linkage until a first end portion of the linkage engages the captured slot, connecting a second end portion of the linkage to the femoral prosthetic component. 
 
     
     
       3. A method of replacing the articulating knee portion of a femur and a tibia comprising:
 resecting an end portion of the tibia; 
 resecting an end portion of the femur; 
 attaching a tibial prosthetic component corresponding to the resected end portion of the tibia, the tibial prosthetic component having a bearing surface; 
 attaching a femoral prosthetic component corresponding to the resected end portion of the femur, the femoral prosthetic component having a bearing surface; 
 installing a bearing member between the tibial prosthetic component and the femoral prosthetic component; 
 allowing the bearing member, having a first surface operable to articulate with the femoral bearing surface and a second bearing surface operable to articulate with the tibial bearing surface, to articulate with both of the tibial prosthetic component and the femoral prosthetic component; 
 connecting the tibial prosthetic component to the femoral prosthetic component with a linkage; and 
 allowing the femoral prosthetic component to translate in the posterior direction and rotate during flexion relative to the tibial prosthetic component of the joint because of the linkage; 
 wherein connecting the tibial prosthetic component to the femoral prosthetic component with the linkage includes: 
 inserting the linkage into a captured slot in the tibial component; 
 translating the linkage until a first end portion of the linkage engages the captured slot; and 
 connecting a second end portion of the linkage to the femoral prosthetic component. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein connecting the tibial prosthetic component to the femoral prosthetic component with the linkage includes:
 connecting a first end of the linkage to a posterior portion of the tibial prosthetic component; and 
 connecting a second end of the linkage to a interior portion of the femoral prosthetic component.